ISLAMABAD, OCT 31 (Agencies) : A day after Foreign Minister Khurshid M Kasuri remarked that India and Pakistan were close to reaching an agreement on Siachen, Islamabad today said its hope of settlement of the issue was based on the belief that all differences between the two sides could be resolved.
"We believe that all issues between Pakistan and India, including Siachen and core issue of Jammu and Kashmir, are resolvable.
If we did not believe that, there would not have been any point in dialogue which is underway.
"The Foreign Minister was speaking in that context.
He feels optimistic that given the political will Siachen can be resolved.
In 1989 two countries came very close to signing an agreement," Foreign Office Spokesperson Tasnim Aslam told reporters when asked about Kasuri's statement yesterday.
She said the two sides have held technical-level talks on Siachen but declined to say if any country moved from its stated position.
"There have been technical-level discussions.
I would not go into whether any country moved from its position.
I understand that these issues were discussed and will be discussed and the Foreign Minister did not say that we have reached an agreement.
He said we are close and we can (resolve Siachen)," she said.
Kasuri in an interview here yesterday had said "I know we are very close to an agreement (on Siachen).
I will not go into details.
It depends on political will and I hope that the Prime Minister and the (new) Foreign Minister of India will show that political will".
Kasuri said resolution of the Siachen issue could make Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's proposed visit to Pakistan successful and substantive.
"I will tell you what we will try and do.
I can speak for Pakistan.
We want that your Prime Minister should be able to pay a visit to Pakistan.
Both Foreign Ministers and our Foreign Secretaries will try and achieve the same thing during our meetings.
"We should pave the way for your Prime Minister's visit to Pakistan and to make his visit a success and substantive one because it is very important for India-Pak relations that Prime Minister pays the visit and it achieves something concrete", he said.
Asked about reported statements by some Indian Ministers criticising Pakistan and ISI, she said "the statements that have been emanating from New Delhi after Havana meeting have domestic content.
I would not comment on that." On National Security Advisor M K Narayanan's remarks that India wants a two-tier set-up, Kasuri said "let the two Foreign Secretaries meet on November 14 in New Delhi.
I do not want to harp on differences.
"I think in both countries' interest, the joint security mechanism is a success.
Whereas India has concerns, Pakistan also has concerns and it is much better that we have a mechanism where both countries can voice their concerns," he said.
